If your household gets through several meals in quick succession, first choose a size that fits your usual dishes and your kitchen. Que Choisir generally recommends 12 to 17 place settings for 60 cm models and 9 to 10 for 45 cm models; a compact 6-place-setting dishwasher is better suited to smaller loads. Whether you choose a freestanding or integrated model depends on your kitchen layout. Then compare cycle times, energy and water consumption, and noise levels across models that fit your space.
If dishes pile up between meals, start with the contents of a typical load: plates and glasses, as well as serving dishes and pans. The stated capacity alone won’t tell you how easily these items will fit in the baskets.
The space available will help you choose between a compact, freestanding or integrated model. Measure the space and check how the door will open before settling on a size.
If you wash dishes regularly, compare the water and electricity figures on the energy label, and don’t forget the Eco programme duration. Maintenance and how the dishwasher will be installed in your kitchen also matter.
Consider this if: your kitchen isn’t designed for a matching door panel, or you want more flexibility with the layout.
Check: if you plan to put it under a worktop, Que Choisir recommends confirming that the top panel can be removed.
Consider this if: you have a suitable kitchen housing and want the appliance to match your units. The control panel remains visible on a semi-integrated model.
Bear in mind: Que Choisir notes that a matching door panel may be needed for a fully integrated model.
Consider this if: space is your main concern and you don’t have many dishes to wash. Que Choisir features, among other options, 6-place-setting models designed to sit on a worktop.
Bear in mind: if serving dishes and pans quickly fill the appliance, you may need to run extra cycles.
| Feature | What to check | Who might prioritise it? |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | Compare the stated place settings and check there’s enough room for your serving dishes, pans and glasses. | When dishes from several meals are waiting to be washed, I want to load them all without running several cycles; around 33% of consumers would put capacity first. |
| Installation | Measure the space and check the door clearance. Check the housing and any door panel required, or whether the top panel can be removed from a freestanding model. | In a fitted kitchen, I first need to find an appliance that fits the space available; around 25% of consumers would put this compatibility first. |
| Water and electricity | Check the kWh per 100 cycles and litres per standard cycle, then compare models with a capacity suited to your needs. | If I run the dishwasher often, I want to understand its running costs beyond its energy rating; around 17% of consumers would make this their top priority. |
| Cycle times | Compare the Eco programme duration with shorter programmes, as well as the basket layout. | When meals come one after another, I need clean dishes ready without loading the machine becoming a hassle; around 17% of consumers would put this first. |
| Noise and maintenance | Check the dB rating and noise class, the repairability index and the appliance’s maintenance instructions. | In an open-plan kitchen, I want to keep noise to a minimum and choose an appliance I can maintain; around 8% of consumers would prioritise these factors. |
The letter doesn’t tell you how much water the dishwasher uses, how long the Eco cycle takes or how noisy it is. These differences matter when you run the appliance regularly.
On the label, compare the kWh per 100 cycles and litres per standard cycle, as specified by ADEME, then check the capacity, cycle duration and noise level.
A 6-place-setting model takes up less space, but you may need to run more cycles if serving dishes and pans pile up between meals.
Put together a typical load before comparing it with the 45 cm and 60 cm models featured by Que Choisir.
Smaller loads can also mean spending more time starting and unloading extra cycles.
A fully integrated appliance must fit the space planned for it in your kitchen; the matching door panel may not be supplied with it.
Before choosing, check the housing, door panel and installation requirements, then allow for the products you’ll need to use and maintain the appliance.
Noise levels can have a bigger impact on your choice in an open-plan kitchen, especially if a cycle is running during mealtimes or in the evening.
Compare the dB ratings and noise classes for the models you’re considering, rather than assuming a programme is quiet based on its name alone.
Bosch offers 45 cm and 60 cm freestanding dishwashers in France; features vary by model.
Miele offers slimline and standard freestanding models, as well as models designed for integrated installation.
Whirlpool offers freestanding and integrated dishwashers, with features that vary by model.
These Joybuy models include freestanding and fully integrated appliances for households that wash dishes regularly. Compare their capacity with your usual loads, then check the space required and the cycle information that matters to you.
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Worth considering if meals come one after another and your kitchen has a suitable space for an integrated model.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings; energy class A listed in the product name.
Check the housing, door panel and hinges. If having clean dishes ready quickly matters to you, confirm the Eco cycle duration before choosing.
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A freestanding model to consider if you regularly have a lot of dishes to wash but don’t have a space designed for an integrated door panel.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings; energy class E listed in the product name.
If you plan to install it under a worktop, check the available height and whether the top panel can be removed. Also compare the kWh per 100 cycles and Eco cycle duration with other models you’re considering.
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Worth comparing if you sometimes have a large load, but don’t always fill the dishwasher.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings and seven cycles listed in the product name.
Check the dimensions against your available space, and the Eco cycle duration if you need to reuse your dishes quickly.
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Worth considering if your kitchen is set up for an integrated model and you regularly have a lot of dishes to wash.
Stated capacity of 13 place settings; energy class B listed in the product name.
Check the housing dimensions and installation requirements. When comparing noise, distinguish the Extra Silence mode rating from the figure shown on the energy label.
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A model to consider if your kitchen has a space for an integrated appliance and your meals create large loads.
Stated capacity of 14 place settings; energy class C listed in the product name.
Check the exact dimensions before planning the housing: the measurements listed for this model don’t clearly match the width stated in its name.
It may be suitable if your loads are small, but check how much room your serving dishes and pans take up. If dishes pile up, Que Choisir generally recommends 9 to 10 place settings for a 45 cm model and 12 to 17 for a 60 cm model. Compare these capacities with a typical load.
Some models can be installed this way if they fit and their top panel can be removed. Que Choisir recommends checking this before you buy. Also make sure there’s enough space to open the door.
As well as the energy rating, compare the capacity, kWh per 100 cycles, litres of water per standard cycle, Eco programme duration and noise level. ADEME explains the units used for consumption on the label. Cycle duration is particularly worth checking if you need your dishes back quickly.
Compare the repairability index out of 10 for models that already suit your kitchen and your usual loads. This indicator, published by the ministry responsible for the ecological transition, provides information about how repairable they are. Also check the maintenance instructions for the appliance you’re considering.